Wrapping paper cutter



July 16, 1940. E, J. PARR 2,207,873

' wRAPPING PAPER GUTTER i Filed June i7, 195g' wi/awww, l

Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wrapping paper cutters, and it is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with wrapping paper wound on rolls.

It is common practice to provide for the mounting of single rolls of wrapping paper and to combine a cutter with a holder of the type in mind, said cutter comprising a pivcted blade which bears down upon the leading end of the paper. Inasmuch as paper rolls are quite bulky even in the smaller sizes, it is impracticable to use a holder of the foregoing type for more than one roll of wrapping. paper. Consequently, when a plurality of rolls of as many Widths of paper are intended to be made accessible to the clerk, the convenience thus afforded is offset by the waste of space that must accompany the distribution of the various rolls and their holders.

Another and perhaps more serious fault of the type of holder and cutter mentioned above is that in many instances the paper slips back past the cutter blade, making it necessary for the clerk to raise the blade and feed theleading endsuficiently far forwardly to restore the paper to its rproper relationship to the cutter. 'Ihe objections noted above, mainly those that concern the cutting or tearing ofthe paper, are avoided by the improved paper cutter, the objects of which are as follows:

First, to provide a paper cutter which is so arranged as to accommodate the leading ends of a plurality of rolls of Wrapping paper, said cutter being so constructed that the leading endsof all of the rolls are brought fairly close together, thus constituting the cutter the focal point, so to speak, of all of the rolls.

Second, to provide a cutter for wrapping paper wound in rolls, the arrangement being such that said `cutter is readily mounted either on top of or beneath a counter, provision being made to enable easy access to the leading edges of sheets of various sizes.

Third, to provide an offset inthe spacer frame providing a finger space in which a person kmay insert a finger to start the paper.

Fourth, to provide for the tensioning of the movable jaw or floor so that it exerts a proper pressure upon the paper, a port-ion of said tensioning means serving as a. guide for the paper.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved wrapping paper cutter illustrating the mounting of the cutter unit beneath a store counter.

Figure2 is a perspective view of the cutter unit, the movable member being shown partly lowered.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the Figure 4 is a lcross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a modified type of paper cutter such as is adapted to be mounted in a drawer or cabinet.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5, but also illustrating the association of the cutter with a drawer and paper roll.

It is desired to explain at the beginning that the term cutter is mainly an expression of convenience. The device is not an actual cutter in the sense of its having lblades which produce a shearing action, but it does have edges across which the paper is torn so it will be understood that the quoted term refers to a cutter of this type.

The 'cutter unit is generally designated I in Figs. 1 to 4. This unit may comprise one or more individual cutters. The instant showing in Fig. 1l is of two cutters 2, 3 and a cover 4. These members are hingedly connected to compose a cutter bank, or cutter unit, as it has been called.

The foregoing unit is mounted in any desired location, but it is particularly adapted to be mounted beneath a store counter 5. The manner of mounting is described later in the sequence .f

of description, attention being first directed to the cutter 3. This cutter has a floor 6 (Fig. 2) and an apron 'I. These parts are in the angled relationship shown. The oor 6 has a hinge knuckle 8 on one end. The matching knuckles 9 (Fig. 1) of the cover member 4 are intertted with the knuckle 8 and a pin II .(Fig. 3) completes the hinge. There is an opening I2 in the oor 6 near the forward tearing edge I3. Said opening is spaced back from said edge, leaving a bridge I4 which maintains the continuity of the tearing edge. The cover member 4 has a recess I5 on its forward edge. This recess registers with the opening I2 when the cover is closed.

The apron 'l has an offset I6 on front. This offset comprises the lateral and back walls II, I8, and merely consists of a continuation of the apron 1, formed inwardly in the particular locality of the opening I2, so as to provide a fairly large linger space I9 into which the clerk may insert his linger inorder to touch the paper P (Fig. 4)y through the bottom of the opening I2, said paper lying between the floor 6 and cover member 4 immediately above the recess I5. At the same time the clerk will press'on top of the paper through the opening I2 with his thumb, and thus secure a rm hold on the leading end of the paper, enabling him to pull it forward as far as desired prior to tearing it off across the edge I3.

The oor 3 and its apron 1, together with the related parts, constitutes; a frame. A function of said frame, other than its supplying the tearing edge I3, is to space the various cutters from each other. Screws (Fig. 3) comprise gauge means to both regulate the vertical spacing between the cover member 4 and the respective frame and to determine the width of paper to be dispensed by that particular cutter frame. The screws are driven through threaded holes 2| in the oor 3. The screws are readily adjustable from above. Each one terminates in a stud 22, and inasmuch as the stud is of reduced size there is a resulting shoulder 23, which affords a rest for the cover member 4 when the holes 24 in the latter are fitted upon the studs 22 in the closed position (Fig. 3)

The depth to which the screws areadjusted toward the floor 6 determines the vertical space for the paper P. If it is desired to increase or diminish the space it is only necessary to adjust the screws 2li accordingly. Since the shouldered ends of the screws project into the space between the floor 5 and cover member 4, it follows that they provide side guides for the paper P and at the same time determine the width of paper that can be directed through.

Said screws also perform a function in the tensioning of the cover member 4. A latch 25 slidably held by a guide 23, is drawn upon by a suitably anchored and connected spring 21. The head 28 of the latch is bent over into cam form at 29. This cam is so related tothe free end of the cover 4 that when the cover is closed the latch will not only serve tohold `it in place, but will transfer the tension of the spring 21 to the cover by the cam action of the head upon the free end. Inasmuch as the cam actionwill vary in its effectiveness dependent uponthe altitude of the shoulders 23, it is readily seeny that the foregoing adjustment of the screws 2liV plays a part in the regulation of the tension upon the cover member I0.

The foregoing explanation would conclude the description of the cutter 3 if the cutter unit were confined only to the one element. But it is proposed to provide a plurality of cutters, and to connect them so that each v'one can be swung enough to enable the insertion of the leading ends of the different paper rolls. With this in mind, the cutter 3 includes amember 3which, in a sense, serves as a top. Said member is parallel to the floor G, giving the cutter 3 and every other cutter like it, a cross sectional U-shape (Fig.'4). Said member 30 performs the precise function in respect tothe cutter 2 as does the cover member 4 in respect tothe cutter 3. Accordingly, the member 30 is hinged at 3l to the bottom of the cutter 2 and is also recessed at its forward edge to register with an opening in said bottom.

In order to maintain the identity of corresponding parts in the cutter 2, they are designated by similar numbers, being distinguished only by the addition of exponent lettersfa. Consequently, the foregoing bottom of the cutter 2 is designated 5a, the opening I2a andthe recess I5a. The second latch is the same and is also distinguished from the other accordingto the foregoing plan.

holes 32 through which screws or nails 32a (Fig. 4) are driven into any appropriate kind of a xed support (Fig. 1) to firmly mount the cutter unit I beneath the counter 5. Thus the cutter 2 is made rigid. Both the cutter 3 and its cover 4 can be swung separately or together upon the respective hinges (arrows a and by, Fig. 2) the top member 30 of the cutter 3 acting in the capacity of a cover for the cutter 2 next highest.

The amount of swinging'will bevery slight; only enough to enable directing the leading end of the paper roll through when making a start. The gauge screws 20, 20a of the cutters 3, 2 are at progressively less distances apart (Fig. 3) thus accommodating sheets of successively smaller sizes. It is to be observed that the cutter 2 does not have a top equivalent to the member 3U. Such a member is not necessary when there is no cutter above. If the cutter 3 were used singly, as suggested earlier in the description, its frame would be precisely like the frame of the) cutter 2,

that is to say, without the Vtop member 30. Then said cutter 2 would have a cover member like 4.

Reference is now madeto Figs. 5 and 6. A single cutter 33 is shownlhere. This is intended to have its support upon the front of a drawer 34 (Fig. 6) Said drawer has provision for mounting a roll of paper 35, andthe leading end of the paper P is brought forwardly through the cutter 33.

The latter comprises a oor 36 and apron 31 in angled relationship as before.l d But'now the floor is projected to forma flange 38 which comprises the tearing edge andlies along the top of a slot A3!) disposed horizontally of the drawer 34.-

This slot has an opening 40 which communicates with the finger space 4I of the cutter 33 and with the space beneath the floor 36. This enables the clerk to grip the leading edge of the paper from above and below when the papers cut flush with the tearing edge.Y Clips 42A now Atake the place of the hinge and spring latch of the cutter 2. These clips secure a loose cover member 43 to the floor 36, the shouldered screws 44 being provided to variously space the cover member from the floor, assist in the tensioning of the cover member and to gauge the width of paper to be handled, precisely as before.

f The floor 36 hasan opening 45 and bridge 45. The bridge is a continuation of the-flange 38 and the tearing edge 41 is common to both. The cover member 43` has a matching recess 48, and the apron 31 has an offset 49 which provides the finger space 4|, as before. Screws 53 (Fig. 6) are driven through holes 5I in the apron 31 to secure the cutter 33 to the drawer 34.

From theforegoing description it is vreadily understoodthat a plurality of rolls of paper are intended to be mounted in bank form. These rolls are of various widths designated by the leading ends in Fig. l."v These ends are brought forwardly through the cutters 2 and 3. YWhen a sheet is torn off the tearing naturally is done close to the edge I3. It is not necessary to raiseany cover or cutter in order to start the sheet for the next tearing. This is done only when starting the paper through.

The clerk has only to insert a finger in the spacevv I9'so as to touch the'paper on top and at the same time touch the paper from beneath with his thumb through the opening I2. This enables him'to pull the paper forwardly with a ycenter pull. His fingers will simply slip over the b-ridge I4A and lwhen4 he has pulled the paper out far enough he will tear it off in the manner already described. This operation is as true of the modification in Figs. 5 and 6 as it is of Fig. 1. The opening 40 (Fig. 6) whichoccurs above and below the slot 39 enables the clerk to have access to the ringer space in the cutter 33.

I claim:

y 1.l A wrapping paper cutter comprising a frame consisting of a oor and apron in angled relationship, said Hoor having anopening andthe apron having an oifset'in communication with said opening so that the opening can be reached by inserting a finger in the offset, a cover member closely spaced from said iioor and having arecess in one edge, connecting means movably joining the iioor.l and cover member to maintain the' recess in registration with said opening, and

gauge ymeansto both regulate the spacing be tween said cover memberand floor and to determine the maximum width of paper lnsertible therebetween..

2. AV wrapping paper cutter comprising a frame having av floor and apron, said floorhaving a flange providing a tearing edge, said apron being securable against a support, the flange being'adapted lto overlie one side of a slot in said support, an oifset in the apron and a com-- municating opening in the iloor providingv a nger space accessible through the slot, a cover memberv which is recessed tomatch theopening,

and clips to removably attach the cover member` y to said fioor.

3. A cutter unit for use in conjunction with a i plurality of rolls of wrapping paper of different widths, said unit comprising a plurality of frames one of said framesy having a floor with an angularly disposed apron securable to a xed support thus to firmly mount said unit contiguously to the paper rolls, a cover member havingy an apron and a floor in mutually angled relation-` i ship, a second cover member, said cover member being for the latter ii'oor'to complete a second frame, and the first-named cover member being for the former floor, the latter apron spacing the cover members and floors apart to lead the paper ends out from the rolls at diierent altitudes, and separate hinges connecting the cover members to the adjacent iioors, enabling the optional swinging of the second cover member from its frame, and the swinging of said frame 'from the floor of the former frame, for

the insertion of the respective paper roll ends, said floors and cover members having openings and the aprons having offsets all in registration providing for the insertion of human fingers to grasp the paper ends. n Y v 4. A wrapping paper cutter comprising a frame adapted to be mounted contiguously to a roll of paper, said frame including a pair of members, at least one of said members providing a tearing the pair of members whereby said members are in connected relationship on opposite sides of the vend of paper directed between said members from said roll, said members having registeringI -openings enabling inger contact with opposite sides of the paper end at saidA openings, and

. means'carried vby one of the members, acting on the other member with a cam action to hold said other member under .tension upon said paper end.

j5 A wrapping paper Acutter comprising a'K frame adapted to be mounted contiguously to a.

roll'of paper, said frame including a .pair 'of members, at least one of said members providing a tearing edge, coupling means for coupling one end of the pair of ymembers whereby said members are in connected relationship on opposite sidesof the end of paper directed between ing registering openings enabling linger contact with opposite sides of the vpaper end at said openings, means carried by one ofthe members, acting on the other member with a camy action to hold said other `member under tension upon said paper end, andmeans fitted -in one member having a stud of reduced size to fit a hole in the other member, said stud defining a shoulder on said meansto engage said other member around the hole. f

6. A cutter unitl for use in conjunction with ay floors and covers and providing for the passage of said paper ends in the spaces between said oors and covers, and variously spaced gauge and covers to match thewidth of the paper end positioned therebetween.

EARL J. PARR.

v edge, coupling means for coupling one end of said members from said roll, said members havmeansextending between the respective floors 

